Tuft weaving loom



y 1938. c. ALVORD 2,123,983

TUFT WEAVING LOOM Filed Aug. 14, 1935 3 She'ets-Sheet l lE/FNTOZ ATTORNEY July 19, 1938. C ALVQRD 2,123,983

TUFT WEAVING LOOM Filed Aug. 14. 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT ATTORNEY July 19, 1938. c, ALVORD 2,123,983

TUFT WEAVING LOOM Filed Aug. 14, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented .Fuly 39, 1938 D STTE FATE FFHCE 28 (Dias.

This invention appertains to machinery for the weaving of tufted fabrics, the most diflicult feature of the process being the correct and accurate handling of the relatively hairy, tuft yarn ends in order to bring the two legs of each tuft properly onto the face of the fabric. Applicant's Patent 1,436,619 shows a gripper type, tuft weaving loom in which the tuft yarn carriers are formed and constructed with barriers for separating the ends of the tuft yarns and confining all the substance of each strand whereby each gripper can enter between its respective barriers and grasp all of the yarn fibres. The grasptlps of the grippers then swing down to be 35 adjacent the fell where the tufting process takes ace during which period the grasping tips serve barriers for the tufts whereby the looping tuft legs will be shielded from the chance of their hairy fibres spreading out and catching among the moving warp, the weft strands or the advancing reed dents.

' "36,619 also shows a breast beam comb which are always between some of errands thus keeping a freshly woven sed of relatively soft and easily ton weft from shrinking weft-ways gister with the predetermined pitch tufting mechanism. the ordinary inster loom, commonly known as the Smith loom, there is no mechanical device for the warp strands in register with the of the tuft frames and the corresponding pitch of the, looping comb. The weft is jute, t. e strands for each pick, and the stiffness of oody-like fibre is sufficient to resist the effect of soft cotton warp. re warps take the crimp while the weft remains Ptically uncrimped so the stays i dth during and after the relatively slight variation in width would stop the comb from and the tuf la-mes entering between the warps. A tufted f oor covering woven from jute weft is soft warpwise and relatively stiff weftwise, whereas a soft cotton weft results in a fabric which is soft both warpwise and weftwise; and when the tufts are woven through to the back the result can be a close approximation, both face and back, of the hand woven Oriental rug.

The barriers for guiding and isolating the tuft yarns and the co-acting breast beam comb for retaining t warp strands in pitch with the mechanical tuft inserter during the tufting process are extremely important elements in weaving through to the back rugsor any kind of tufted fabric. Patent flu 1,458,976 of Davis shows a series of blades working in conjunction with the tin tube, tuft yarn guides of a Smith type tube frame and acting as barriers for restraining the hairy tuft yarn ends just as do the barriers on There= the tuft frames shown in Alvords Patent 1,436,619. Applicant has mademany installations involving the Davis patent. Gripper looms shown in Patent 1,436,619 have, for several years, been weaving with cotton weft the greatly admired, through to the back reproductions of lovely Persian rugs and the present invention when attached to a Smith type loom enables the same happy results to be attained on that type of loom.

Applicant herewith shows a type of barrier for similarly restraining the hairy substance of the free ends of the tuft yarns whereby Smith type tube frames can, for the first time, be used directly with a breast beam comb and without the use of intermediary, tuft transferring grippers, or the like, as shown in Patents 1,436,619 and'l, i58,976. These new barriers separate the several strands of hairy tuft yarn and protect them from coming in contact with and being injuriously held down by the moving warp strands or reed dents which co-act with the weft and the stationary breast beam comb in looping the tuft yarn about the retaining weft during the tuft forming period.

The principal object of this invention is a successful barrier for guiding and shielding the free end of a tuft yarn extending from the yarn guide of a tuft frame carrier while it is being actuated directly in conjunction with a breast beam comb during the tuft forming period.

Another object is a novel breast beam comb formed and construction to function in connection with the barriers and a tuft carrying frame of the Smith type.

A further object is means for retaining the barriers in operative position relative to the teeth of the tuft forming, breast beam comb.

These and other combinations of mechanisms,

together with the method of procedure and explan ation of the rapidity of assembly, are clearly described in the application, shown in the severaldrawings and definitely stated in the appended claims.

the drawings:-

l is a partial side elevation of a Smith type loom showing the essential mechanisms of my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, with the pitch greatly exaggerated for clarity, of the tuft forming mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2 showing the tuft inserter dipping in between the flexible yarn barriers;

Fig. 4 depicts a later point in the cycle with the reed driving the weft up toward the fell;

Fig. 5 shows the reed at the fell; and, with Fig. 6 illustrates the turning up of the tuft legs onto the face of the fabric.

The drawings illustrate a. Smith type, tuft weaving loom and, as it is a-well known machine,

the operation of the loom requires no extensive description here. The loom frame I has the various shafts journalled therein and the tuft, or tube, frames 2 are carried in succession to the clutches 3 which are journalled in the outer ends of the actuating clutch-arms I with the ends of the frames supported and moved thereby, all as in usual practice. The warps it pass through and are operated by the harnesses 6, i and 8 which are shedded by the usual and well known mechanism not shown. The woven fabric 8 passes over the breast beam plate l0 and is drawn forwardby the take up roll II. The tufts are cut of! by the front shear blade I! working in conjunction with the rear blade IS. The lay H and reed l5 beat the weft to the fell.

My mechanism l'ias been especially designed for rapid and easy attachment to existing, Smith type looms. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 it may be seen that I secure a breast beam comb I! to the underside of the regular breast beam plate Ill of a Smith type loom. As previously pointed out, the use of such a comb permits the use of cotton weft and also serves to turn the free ends of the tufts onto the face of the fabric when they are being beaten to the fell by reed ii. In order to isolate the tuft ends from the warp strands l8 and reed I5 I employ novel barriers l8, preferably composed of rubber, or the like, and stretched between front comb is and rear comb 20 which gives them sufficient stifl'ness to guide the free ends of the tuft yarn strands. Front comb l9, attached by screws to breast beam comb I1, is notched at 2| and the rear comb at 22 sufficiently to anchor the tensioned bands I8. This type of construction is both simple and advantageous as to ease of assembly and rapidity of-replacement whenever the need arises. Rear comb 20 is attached to a transverse stiflener bar 23 fastened to the loomsides by brackets 24. The normal position of the rubber bands is indicated by the dotted lines 25 in Fig. 2 where it may be seen that the reed is free to beat up and back in its lane without chafing the bands which extend substantially parallel with the warp. But, at the point in the cycle when it is necessary to insert the tuft yarn guides, or retainers, 26, it may be desirable to crowd each pair of hands together so as to present wider spaces for the introduction of the tuft yarn guides. One good way of accomplishing this object is to provide a comb 21 secured to stiffener bar 28 and pivoted on stud 29. A cam 30 keyed to mainshaft 3i actuates cam lever 32 which in turn moves the comb 21 up and down by means of the connector 33. The comb 21 is pointed so as to gather two adjacent bands into a single slot as the comb rises to the position shown in Fig. 3. The comb is set transversely of the loom so that the slots are directly below warp strands l6 and thus the bands at the dipping in point are substantially in the same vertical planes as are the corresponding warp strands IS. The weft is not inserted into the shed until comb 21 has been lowered below the bottom shed line and safely out of the way of the advancing, weft inserting needle indicated by dotted lines 39. Preferably the barriers are in the form of endless. rubber bands but they could be formed by one or more long rubber strips looped back and forth between the front and rear combs.

In the event that one of the rubber bands should be struck by one of the relatively fragile tuft retainers 26 no damage would result to either 2,12aoss and the elasticity of the band would cause it to return to its normal position when the tuft retainer was raised. This feature is an extremely important one and saves much loom stoppage for repairs such as would undoubtedly occur should some barrier material other than rubber, or the like, be employed.

As soon asthe tuft retainers 28 and the free ends of the depending tuft yarns are well down between and below the barriers the comb 21 drops below lay H to permit the reed to beat the weft 23 toward the fell. When the ends of the tuft yarns are led between the barriers and then drawn toward the breast beam comb the ends will tend to rise out of the barriers unless they are forced downward far enough to be below the barriers. In that position the hairy substance of the yarns will spread sidewise so as to take up a greater area in the free space below the barriers than they can do where compressed between the barriers, and they will stay there when moved toward the comb and until drawn upward out of the control of the barriers. The clutches 3 operate in the well known manner to move the tuft yarn frame toward the fell and also upward in time with the advancing reed as shown in Fig. 4. The breast beam comb is almost identical in its action with the well known comb shown in the patent to Alvord, 1,436,619, and accomplishes the same results. It is when the reed dents enter the slots of the breast beam comb, driving the weft into contact with the sloping face thereof and then up over the tops of the teeth, that the dents pass between the free ends of the tuft yarns which are pendant from the yarn inserter and at that instant extending rearwardly toward the advancing dents. It is during this portion of the tuft forming period that the barriers act to position and isolate the tuft yarns from the moving dents and the moving warp strands keeping them from becoming pressed against the comb or entangled in a manner to put a restraint on any tuft to prevent it from rising normally over the comb teeth onto the-face of the fabric. The barriers isolate the tuft yarns practically up to the top of the teeth of the breast-beam-like comb! shown in the drawings as spaced to facilitate that action. Thus the tuft yarns are completely .isolated and shielded during the dangerous part of the tuft forming period. There are two barriers to each breast beam comb tooth and reed dent in order that the above important arrangement may be rendered possible, i. e. that there shall be separate lanes for the tufts apart from those lanes occupied by the warp strands and reed dents.

The pitch, or spacing, of the teeth of the breast beam comb reeds, alternate lanes and the tubelike yarn guides of the tuft yarn carrier frames are identical and they are set in proper register with each other The great majority of ends are turned vertically upward as at 38 in Fig. 5 due to their impact against comb teeth 85. In case there should be a few tied down by extra long, projecting hairs as at 31 I prefer to retain the well known, Smith type comb It as a secondary means for turning such tied down tufts onto the surface and to poke such ends upward as shown in Fig. 6. This comb functions almost exactly in its customary manner so I have not shown any operating mechanism for it. However, I prefer to use a comb with unusually long teeth. Thus, this comb accomplishes the same useful purpose that the tips of the rising grippers do in Alvord Patent 1,436,619.

In certain cases it may be advisable to use thin springy steel of great flexibility inthe construction of the barriers in place of rubber but such a change does not affect the invention. In that case, however, the barriers probably would not be in the shape of bands but preferably, would resemble long legged Us with the ends of the legs projecting rearwardly through the comb 20. It is to be understood that various other modifications in construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a Smith type tuft fabric weaving loom, in combination, operable means for inserting tuft strands between warp strands by tube-like yarn guides of a tuft frame, a stationary breast beam comb, operable reed dents formed to cooperate with said comb in forming tufts and means located adjacent to said comb and adapted to guide the free ends of tuft strands pendant from said yarn guides and thereby isolate them from the reed dents and accompanying warp.

u. in a Smith type tuft fabric weaving loom, in combination, a breast beam comb, a multiplicity of tuft yarn barriers associated therewith and extending warpwise in the loom and operable means for actuating a tuft frame whereby the yarn guides thereof may be passed between warp strands and between said barriers whereby the ends of the yarn guides of the tuft frames project below the warp strands and the barriers.

In a tuft fabric weaving loom, combination, a breast beam o no and a series of extremely flexible barrier associated with spaced to register with t' teeth of the comb for isolating the free ends tuft yarns, there being two barriers for each comb tooth.

a. The method of we ving tufted fabrics which consists in mounting yarns on and directing them through the guides of a mechanical tuft inserter having a predetermined pitch and passing the yarn guides and the free ends of yarn pendant from the guides of the inserter between warp strands and between flexible yarn barriers until they project below the barriers prior to beating the tufts the deli.

In a tuft fabric weaving loom, in combination, warp shedding mechanism, operable *eed dents, operable means for actuating a tuft carrier frame, and a series of tuft yarn composed of rubber, associated therewith whereby tuft yarn strands may be shielded from dents and from warp strands during a portion of the tuf forming period.

d. in a tuft fabric weaving loom, in combination, a breast beam comb and a series of stationary tuft yarn barriers composed of rubber, associated with said comb whereby tuft yarn strands may severally be segregated thereinbetween and held in register with the comb.

7. In a tuft fabric weaving loom, a series of tuft strand barriers fashioned to be elastic and positioned adjacent the fell being formed to separate and segregate tuft yarn strands and means for securing said barriers in position, said barriers being adapted to return automatically to normal position in case of displacement.

8. In a tuft fabric weaving loom, operable reed dents, a stationary breast beam comb, a series of relatively flexible tuft yam barriers fashioned to admit and shield tuft yarns, a comb positioned rearwardly of said breast beam comb and formed to enter between said barriers to spread and register them for the entrance of tuft yarns during a portion of the tuft forming period and means for actuating said second named comb.

9. In a tuft fabric weaving loom, in combination, operable means for actuating a mechanical tuft inserter provided with tuft retainers which are spaced at a fixed pitch, a series of bands composed of rubber, and front and rear supports for the bands spaced in register with the retainers whereby a series of lanes may rapidly be formed for the entrance therein of the tuft retainers.

10. In a Smith type tuft fabric weaving loom, in combination, a breast-beam-like comb situated at the fell, a series of tuft yarn barriers attached to said comb in register with the teeth thereof there being a barrier on each side of a comb tooth, and operable means for moving a tuft carrier frame to the fell during the tuft forming period whereby the free ends of the tuft yarns pendant from the carrier frame may pass between adjacent barriers to contact the comb preparatory to being looped thereby onto the face of the fabric. I

11. In a tuft fabric weaving loom, in combination, warp shedding mechanism, operable reed dents, operable means for actuating a tuft yarn carrier frame, and a series of tuft yarn barriers positioned adjacent the fell whereby the free ends of tuft yarns pendant from a tuft frame may be entered between and project below their respective barriers to be isolated and shielded thereby from moving dents or moving, warp strands during a portion of the tuft forming period.

12. In a tuft fabric weaving loom, in combination, a multiplicity of tuft yarn guiding barriers composed of rubber, and means for holding said barriers in a state of tension whereby they stifien suficiently to guide tuft yams.

13. In a tuft fabric weaving Zoom, in combination, a series or relatively flexible barriers placed parallel with the warp forming lanes suitable for guiding and isolating tuft yarns, whereby warp strands and reed dents are prevented from contacting the tuft yarns during the tuft formperiod and operable means for temporarily s acing and spreading the barriers to facilitate i e entrance of tuft yarns therebetween.

In a tuft fabric weaving "room, a multiplici of substantially parallel, relatively flexible, tuft yarn barriers placed adjacent to and paraiiel with the warp in the loom, said barriers being formed and positioned to take tuft yarn strands thereinbetween during the tuft forming period and shield them from contact with warp strands and reed dents with portions of the unshielded tuft yarn strands extending both above and below the barriers.

15. In a tuft fabric weaving loom, a stationary breast beam comb for looping tufts onto the face of the fabric, a series of tuft yarn barriers associated with said comb and formed and adapted to isolate tuft yarns, and an operable comb associated with the breast beam comb and positioned below the barriers whereby the comb teeth may pass between certain of the barriers and between the warp strands to act as a secondary tuft looping means for supplementing the looping action ofsaid breast beam comb.

16. In a tuft fabric weaving loom, a multiplicity of substantially parallel tuft yarn barriers composed of rubber, 'and means for sustaining said barriers in a stretched condition with the rearward end portion of the barriers placed substantially parallel with and below a warp.

1'7. In a tuft fabric weaving loom, in combination, a series of barriers forming lanes parallel with a warp, and an operable comb having teeth formed and adapted to enter between certain of the barriers and temporarily spread them to widen the lanes whereby tuft yarns may more easily enter between the spread barriers.

18. In a tuft fabric weaving loom, a breast beam comb, a series of endless rubber bands associated therewith and forming lanes for the entrance of tuft yarns, operable reed dents, means for securing the bands adjacent the breast beam comb and means for securing the rear end of the bands rearwardly of the reed whereby they are held under tension with both strands of each band positioned between two adjacent dents.

19. The improved method of weaving tufted fabrics which consists in restraining sidewise the free ends of hairy tuft yarns and thereby preventing them from contacting warp strands or reed dents until the ends are looped about weft substantially as high as the top shed line.

20. In a loom for weaving tufted fabrics, in combination, operable weaving instrumentalities, operable means for inserting tuft yarn strands between warp strands whereby the free ends thereof may project below the bottom shed line, means formed and adapted for restraining such projecting tuft yarns against harmful contact with weaving elements during the critical portion of the tuft forming period, and stationary means adapted to loop such free ends onto the face of the fabric.

21. In a tuft fabric weaving loom, in combination, a series of operable reed dents, a series of wall-forming barriers placed parallel with the warp and forming lanes with alternate lanes adapted for receiving and shielding the ends of pendant tuft yarns from contacting warp strands and reed dents that may prevent the tufts from looping properly onto the face of the fabric, and operable means for temporarily spreading the walls of the tuft receiving lanes to facilitate the entrance of pendant tuft yarns thereinbetween and then allowing the spread walls to resume their normal position to permit free shedding action of warp strands and a beating-up movement of the reed dents in the other lanes whereby the fabric may be woven.

22. In an Axminster loom operating with binder warps, a reed having dents located between the warps, a tube frame having yarn tubes with tuft yarns to be moved between the binders, and means defining a series of inclosures, each inclosure being between binder warps and located between the reed dents when the latter are in forward position, said inclosures to be occupied only by the tuft yarns to define guides therefor.

23. In an Axminster loom operating with binder warps, a reed having dents to space the warps, a tube frame having tuft tubes with tuft yarns projecting therefrom, a series of inclosures extending substantially parallel to the binders, and means to move the tube frame to cause the yarn tubes and tuft yarns to enter the inclosures, said inclosures located between the binders and also between the reed dents when the latter are in forward position, the inclosures being occupied only by the tuft yarns and tuft tubes.

24. In an Axminster loom operating with binder warps, a reed having dents to space the warp, a tube frame having yarn tubes with yarns projecting therefrom, a series of elongated narrow inclosures substantially parallel to the binder warps, the warps and reed dents to be located outside the inclosure at all times, and means to move the yarn tubes and tuft yarns into said inclosures preparatory to the formation of a row of tufts, said inclosures guiding the tuft yarns and preserving the same in parallel relationship during the tuft forming operation.

25. In an Axminster loom operating with binder warps, a reed having dents to space the warp, a tube frame having yarn tubes with yarns projecting therefrom, a series of elongated narrow tubular tuft yarn guides closed at their rear ends, the reed dents and binder warps to be located outside the guides at all times, and means to move the tube frame to cause the tuft yarns and tuft tubes to enter the guides, whereby the latter hold the tuft yarns in parallel relationship during a portion of the tuft forming operation.

26. In an Axminster loom operating with binder warps, a reed having dents to space the warp, a tube frame having yarn tubes with yarns projecting therefrom, a plurality of elongated narrow tuft yarn inclosures with spaces therebetween, the binder warps and reed dents to be located outside of the inclosures at all times and movable in the spaces between said inclosures, and means to move the yarn tubes and tuft yarns into said inclosures, the inclosures preserving parallel relationship of the tuft yams during the first part of a tuft forming operation of the loom.

27. In an Axminster loom operating with binder warps, a reed having dents to space the warp, a tube frame having yarn tubes with yar'ns pro- Jecting therefrom, a series of elongated narrow inclosures having their upper surfaces inclined downwardly and rearwardly, the binders and dents located outside of said inclosures at all times, and means to move the tube frame to cause the front portions of the yarn tubes to enter the inclosures at the inclined portions of the latter and to move said tuft yarns into the inclosures to be. held thereby in parallel relationship, the inclosures guiding the tuft yarns during the tuft forming operation.

28. The method of weaving pile fabrics in a loom operating with a stationary breast beam like comb and using a tube frame from the tubes of which depend the free ends of tuftyarns, the steps of passing warp threads through the tooth spaces of said comb, passing the tubes of the tube frame with the free ends of the tuft yarns down through and below said warp threads behind said comb, inserting a shot of weft back of the tuft yarns and beating the weft together with the bight of the tuft yarn over and to.a position in front of the teeth of the comb, whereby the free ends of the tuft yarns are turned up onto the face of the fabric being woven.

CLINTON ALvoaD. 

